They saw themselves at the summit of the French state, and were aghast when
the bumbling François Hollande reached the top before them. Now Ségolène
Royal, Mr Hollande’s former partner, and Martine Aubry, his bitter Socialist
adversary, believe that the hour of revenge has come.

Both women are hovering in the wings in anticipation that Mr Hollande will be
forced to call upon them to save his presidency after the disclosure that
his former tax chief had hidden €600,000 in bank accounts abroad.

Their ambitions are testimony to the web of personal and political jealousies
in which President Hollande is